Measures and Values of Light: Changing the Energy Field and Adapting to Climates Changed
Open Access
- Author:
- Soares, Paulo
- Graduate Program:
- Energy and Mineral Engineering
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- February 22, 2021
- Committee Members:
- Jeffrey Brownson, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Jeffrey Brownson, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Seth Adam Blumsack, Committee Member
Susan W Stewart, Committee Member
Jeffrey M Catchmark, Outside Member
Mort D Webster, Program Head/Chair - Keywords:
- Solar irradiance
Direct normal irradiance
multypiranometer array
Machine learning
Solar Radiometric Systems
GIS
LiDAR
3D view
low-resolution LiDAR
rooftop segmentation
photovoltaic systems
site suitability
GIS
LiDAR
rooftop segmentation
photovoltaic systems
site suitability
agrivoltaics
climate change
multi-objective decision-making
trade space exploration
Light
TMY
NSRDB
PV Generation - Abstract:
- The installed capacity of solar energy systems for electricity generation is increasing rapidly worldwide. Such growth is a critical for grid decarbonization and climate change mitigation. The accurate quantification of the solar resource is essential for the effective design of systems such as photovoltaic (PV) plants. This fact is, however, often overlooked. The PV systems, for instance, can be modeled using Typical meteorological year (TMY) datasets. Those should be, however, used with caution. This work begins by discussing the importance of in-loco solar irradiance measurements for understanding the variability in energy generation. We also propose innovative and affordable methods to measure the solar resource, including its direct and diffuse components. The radiometric systems presented in this work can be multiple times more affordable than conventional systems while showing similar performance. A low-cost network of measurement systems could be built using the affordable sensors presented in this work, contributing to improving the quantification of the resource at the sites of interest. This work also discusses the importance of the solar resource estimated over large areas. Satellite-based observations of solar irradiance are the foundation of a solar energy generation map developed to inform the average solar irradiance availability throughout the Borough of State College (PA). The map is useful to identify potentially suitable areas for the development of solar PV systems in the Borough. Finally, this work discusses the integration of food production and solar energy generation through the lens of climate change. For locations likely to experience intense or frequent drought events, the solar modules become a sunlight management tool when installed over crops. This work presents a transdisciplinary framework for the decision-making process of the site selection for agrivoltaic systems in regions impacted by climate change. A study case in the US demonstrates the importance of this approach in the decision-making process. In summary, this dissertation is about light and the usefulness of solar irradiance information for power generation and climate change mitigation.